Children and young people’s health and wellbeing in changing times

England has one of the highest mortality rates in Europe for those aged 0 to 14. Levels of obesity among children in the UK are high, while 10 per cent of children between five and 16 years of age have a mental health problem. In addition, we currently have the highest birth rate in 40 years, which adds further weight to the case for addressing key child health and wellbeing challenges.

Good health services for children are essential for the future health of the adult population. Making improvements to these services now will pay dividends in the future, quite apart from the moral and ethical case for doing so.

Despite the welcome increase in funding over the last decade, the NHS atlas of variation shows there are still areas where outcomes are poor and highlights that greater resource allocation does not necessarily lead to improved care. New ways of working need to be considered to improve health outcomes and ensure children and young people receive the high-quality care they deserve.